Investigating the validity of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to assess ADHD in young adulthood. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Riglin, Lucy; Agha, Sharifah Shameem; Eyre, Olga; Bevan Jones, Rhys; Wootton, Robyn E; Thapar, Ajay K; Collishaw, Stephan; Stergiakouli, Evie; Langley, Kate; Thapar, Anita
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 301(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: SDQ -- ADHD -- Hyperactivity -- ROC curve -- Young adulthood -- ALSPAC; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113984
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: The SDQ is widely used to assess ADHD symptoms in children. We investigated the validity of the SDQ to assess ADHD at age 25 years. The SDQ ADHD subscale had high validity in distinguishing DSM-5 ADHD cases from non-cases. A lower cut-point is needed to identify ADHD diagnosis in young adulthood compared to younger ages. The SDQ is appropriate for ADHD research across different development periods. Abstract: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms typically onset early and persist into adulthood for many. Robust investigation of symptom continuity and discontinuity requires repeated assessments using the same measure, but research is lacking into whether measures used to assess ADHD symptoms in childhood are also valid in adulthood. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used to assess ADHD symptoms in children, but little is known about its utility in adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of the SDQ hyperactivity/ADHD subscale to distinguish between cases and non-cases of DSM-5 ADHD at age 25 years in a UK population cohort ( N = 4121). ADHD diagnosis was derived using the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV. Analyses suggested that the self-rated SDQ ADHD subscale had high validity in distinguishing ADHD cases/non-cases in young adulthood (area under the curve=0.90, 95% CI=0.87–0.93) and indicated a lower cut-point for identifying those who may have an ADHD diagnosis in this age group compared to that currently recommended for younger ages. Findings were similar for parent-reports. Our findings suggest that the SDQ is suitable for ADHD research across different developmental periods, which will aid the robust investigation of ADHD from childhood to young adulthood.